Last Thursday the Holy Father proclaimed the Year of Faith beginning on 11th October and ending on the Feast of Christ the Universal King 2013.

Why has the Pope proclaimed this Year of Faith? Well first of all it marks the Fiftieth Year since the Second Vatican Council was called by Blessed Pope John XXIII and twenty years since Blessed John Paul II of blessed and hallowed memory published THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Both these events have been crucial for the development of the Christ's Body, the Church in the modern era.

The beginning of the Year of Faith is an opportunity for all of us to grow in knowledge and love of God by reflecting on and learning about our Belief as Catholics. We are being challenged by the Pope who has also called a Synod of Bishops to Rome, to deepen our appreciation of our Faith. Pope Benedict twelve months ago wrote a letter to the Universal Church called PORTA FIDEI - "The Door of Faith". This image is taken from the Acts of the Apostles. There we read how SS Paul and Barnabas returned from one of their fist missionary journeys and how they then "assembled the Church and gave an account of all that God had done with them", and how "he had opened the door of faith to the pagans..."

Pope Benedict asks us to make that image our own when he writes "...the door of faith is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into the Church." The hope of the Holy Father for the Year of Faith is it will be "a good opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the Faith."

I would suggest as your Parish Priest along with Father George that we should all possess a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in either of its various forms The Compendium or YOUCAT. We should aim to grow deeper in our personal life of faith and do more to become stronger and bolder in our profession of that same faith. We need to commit ourselves individually - we need to value and ponder the articles of the faith laid down in the Creed.

From last Thursday I am leaving the church open for prayer (side door in St Edwards) for prayer all day after Mass until 4pm.
At St Kenitigerns I have bought a Perspex stand to the right of the Main door as you enter the Church full of booklets for you to choose to buy and read to deepen your understanding of the Catholic Faith. The full Catechism of the Catholic Church will be there for you to buy on Order. (In St Edwards near the Piety Shop.) You can pay for these by using the slot on the Large Safe on your Left as you enter the church marked "Religious Books etc". I am not out to make profits on this but to break even - what I desire is for you to deepen your knowledge.

If enough sign up Mrs Pauline Emberson, our Maryvale trained Catechist is going to run a Catechism Class for Catholics and non Catholics to come to a deeper understanding.

Each week too there will be an A4 sheet on top of the bulletin for you to take away and read containing a reflection on an aspect of the Faith raised by the Sunday readings - please take one home. It will be very instructive and is being done in the Diocese of Shrewsbury and Portsmouth and prepared in part by Fr Ian Farrell of St Joseph's, Longsight. I thank him for letting us use it.

Bishop Brain is giving us a Pastoral Letter today at all masses to mark the beginning of the Year of Faith.

May God deepen our love for Jesus Christ and delight our hearts and minds with deeper knowledge of Him who is the Way, Truth and Life.

God Bless,

Father Tom Connolly

CARITAS - THE NEW NAME FOR THE RESCUE SOCIETY AND SO MUCH MORE ARE SELLING CHRISTMAS CARDS. YOU WILL FIND EXAMPLES AND ORDER FORMS AT THE BACK OF CHURCH.

ALL SOULS 2 November. There will be red grave lights (3 days ones) on sale near the votives – they cost £2.50. Put it in the candle box please.

FORTY HOURS DEVOTION WILL BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER. CANDLES ON SALE NOW - PLEASE WRITE ON THE LABEL THE NAMES YOU WANT TO PRAY FOR - LIVING AND DEAD.

Manchester Evening News wish 12. For our community. Would readers of the MEN please save the token each day printed in the M.E.N so that the more we can get the more Money of the £25,000 Caritas will get if we are drawn out of the hat!! ? There is a box at the porch of the church for you to deposit your daily tokens in- closes on 17th November.

LESS THAN THE PRICE OF A BIRTHDAY CARD. A LITTLE BOOK WITH AN EXTRACT FROM THE CATECHISM AND A COMMENT ON AN ASPECT OF OUR CATHOLIC FAITH AND A DAILY PRAYER IS ON SALE AT £1.50 AT THE BACK OF CHURCH. It s first page is for this Sunday and it will go on to 13th Jan and then another booklet will come out. It is truly inspiring stuff and is geared to all levels of education. I have purchased 800 for my two parish communities and I hope I am sold out this Sunday!

The Marian Procession was a great grace for everyone who took part and well done to all those who organised it so well.

Priest: God the Father fills us with his kindness and makes us glad. Confiding in the gracious care of the Lord we offer him our prayers for the Year of Faith.

Reader: That the Year of faith will rouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the Faith in fullness and with renewed conviction. Lord in your mercy.

That all will work together against the increasing threats of secularism to the rights of conscience and religious freedom. Lord in your mercy
That the New Evangelisation may progress in the oldest Christian communities who received the Faith centuries ago and have now grown cold and without fervour. Lord in your mercy.

For families: that they will live in God and grow in his love. Lord in your mercy.

For those suffering from debilitating illness or chronic pain: that God in his tenderness and compassion will stay close to strengthen them and up lift them and we pray for Mary O'Rourke, Trever Jones, Kathleen Burke, Peter Ramsbottom, Anthony Dwyer Maria Caru-ana, Harry Williams, Margaret Burke, Rosella Devlin, Father McGarry and Fr Kevin Griffin.Lord in your mercy

For those whom God has called to himself this week that they might gaze upon the Beatific Vision in heaven and be happy forever: Ann Bowens, John Richie, Elizabeth McCarron AND all those whose anniversaries fall about this time: Tom Brady, Brian Johnson, Tommy Biesty (9am) Afram Zaire , Mary Fitzgerald, Noreen Byrne, Brian McCluskey.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God.

Mary is the Morning Star of the original Proclamation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ - O Mary Conceived with out sin. Pray for us who have recourse to thee. Hail Mary, full of grace...

Priest: Loving Father, we can do all thinks in him who strengthens us- Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.